The American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA), formed in 1973,[2] publishes the International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury (ISNCSCI),[3] which is a neurological exam widely used to document sensory and motor impairments following spinal cord injury (SCI).
[6] The exam is based on neurological responses, touch and pinprick sensations tested in each dermatome, and strength of the muscles that control key motions on both sides of the body.
[3] The ISNCSCI exam is used for determining the neurological level of injury (the lowest area of full, uninterrupted sensation and function).
[3] The completeness or incompleteness of the injury is measured by the ASIA Impairment Scale (AIS).
Frankel and his team developed a classification system with five grades, labeled A through E, to assess the severity of neurological impairments following a traumatic SCI.